Lessons Learned from Popular Culture (2024)

Informative and entertaining introduction to the study of popular culture.

As the "culture of the people," popular culture provides a sense of identity that binds individuals to the greater society and unites the masses on ideals of acceptable forms of behavior. Lessons Learned from Popular Culture offers an informative and entertaining look at the social relevance of popular culture. Focusing on a wide range of topics, including film, television, social media, music, radio, cartoons and comics, books, fashion, celebrities, sports, and virtual reality, Tim Delaney and Tim Madigan demonstrate how popular culture, in contrast to folk or high culture, gives individuals an opportunity to impact, modify, or even change prevailing sentiments and norms of behavior. For each topic, they include six engaging and accessible stories that conclude with short life lessons. Whether you're a fan of The Big Bang Theory or Seinfeld, the Beatles or Beyoncé, Charlie Brown or Superman, there's something for everyone.

Tim Delaney is Professor of Sociology at the State University of New York at Oswego. Tim Madigan is Associate Professor of Philosophy at St. John Fisher College. Together they have coauthored Sports: Why People Love Them! and The Sociology of Sports: An Introduction.